Our General Education cousework enables undergraduate students to build a solid foundation of problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing skills. Students who complete this coursework at UIS experience the benefits of world-class teaching, personal attention by outstanding faculty who are committed to teaching, and ample opportunities for engaged learning.
World-Class Teaching
UIS is committed to providing quality knowledge to students though excellent teaching practices taught by an increasingly diverse faculty. Our faculty provides a wide array of information from diverse and inclusive perspectives and backgrounds, further expanding the worldview of students.
Personal Attention
UIS is committed to assuring that classes are delivered to meet the needs of students, improving practices to meet the needs of a diverse student body, and working to further enrich the student experience both in and out the classroom.
Experience Engaged
UIS is committed to expanding experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom, increasing the capability and practice of experiential activities in courses, and ensuring that experiential learning opportunities are connected to the world beyond the campus environment.
Liberal Arts Skilled
UIS is committed to expanding and enhancing our liberal arts strengths to properly prepare students for the future, as well as integrating liberal arts skills across all majors offered at UIS.
General education at UIS expresses its mission of the campus through its curriculum to provide Student-focused Teaching and Learning, Integrity, Inquiry, Civic Engagement, Diversity, Strategic Thinking, and Accountability.
The UIS General Education Core Curriculum is Designed to Ensure Educational Breath, Requiring the Completion of Courses from Several Disciplines Including: First-Year Seminar, Written Communication, Oral Communication, Mathematics, Life & Physical Science, Comparative Societies, Humanities, and Behavior & Social Sciences.
| General Education Courses | General Education Requirements | Course Examples |
| First-Year Seminar | 1 course, 3 hours. This is a course in college survival skills which may be taught in any discipline, and will be counted as fulfilling a general education humanities, social science, or science requirement. | *UNI 101 - College for First Year Students |
| Written Communication | 2 courses, 3 hours each; courses must be passed with a grade of C or better (grades of C- or lower will not be accepted). | *ENG 102 - College Writing and Civic Engagement |
| Oral Communication | 1 course, 3 hours. | *COM 112 - Oral Communication |
| Mathematics | 1 course, 3 hours. Choose a mathematics course appropriate to your major. Check with your advisor to ensure you choose an appropriate course. | *MAT 112 - Mathematics in Daily Life |
| Life & Physical Science | 2 courses, 3 or 4 hours each, one in Physical Science and one in Life Science (one course must include a laboratory). | *BIO 231 - Applied Microbiology |
| Comparative Societies | 1 course, 3 hours; course may satisfy either Humanities or Social Science category. | *HIS 106 - Peoples of the Past |
| Humanities | 3 courses, 3 hours each; one course should be from the Visual, Creative, or Performing Arts and at least one from other Humanities. | *ART 215 - Photography I |
| Behavior & Social Sciences | 3 courses, 3 hours each; courses must be taken in at least two disciplines. | *LES 202 - Introduction to the American Legal System |